Census Bureau

According to the United States Census Bureau, 41% of households had completed the 2020 census as of April 1. Amanda Scott, senior lecturer in English and assistant executive editor of Porter House Review, says this year’s census could face challenges and provide opportunities for those affected by the coronavirus.

Mandated by the Constitution, the U.S. Census Bureau counts the nation’s residents every 10 years. The data determine seats in the House and federal funds for local communities, as well as inform practical research. Examples from Darden: studies on poverty and race, allocation of opportunity zones, and the effect of technology on rich and poor.

To make sure historically undercounted populations along the Texas-Mexico border are included in the 2020 census, faculty at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) are joining forces with the U.S. Census Bureau, community health workers, and local organizations to launch a collaborative campaign in the El Paso region.